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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

An ATR-72 aircraft (registration VT-KAC) operated by India's Kingfisher Airlines appears to have been substantially damaged when it overran a runway while landing at Mumbai. The accident happened on November 10, 2009 at about 16:40 local time in Mumbai. No one among the four crew and 42 passengers on board was injured. The aircraft's nose gear, left main gear, left wing and left propeller are said to have been damaged as a result of the excursion.

According to various news reports, the aircraft, operating as Kingfisher Flight IT 4124, was arriving at Mumbai after a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Bhavnagar. The aircraft apparently landed long on runway 27A and was unable to come to a halt before overrunning the end of the runway and becoming mired in mud. It should be noted that runway 27A is temporarily shortened due to displacement of the threshold while repairs are underway. At the time of the accident, the weather was said to have been cloudy with light rain and reduced visibility.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has opened an investigation of the accident. The two pilots have been stood down pending the outcome of the investigation.

Here is a video clip of Times Now television news coverage of the accident:

UPDATE Nov. 12, 2009:FlightGlobal.comreports today that as a result of the Kingfisher ATR runway overrun, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued new guidelines for airlines operating at Mumbai airport. Specifically, the DGCA says "no operations will be allowed on the runway if the surface is wet, and assisted take-offs and landings are not allowed."

The news DGCA guidelines also require that one of the two pilots operating aircraft on the runway must be a training captain and the other must have a minimum of 300 hours' flying experience, it adds. A de-briefing report must be filed after each flight.